Kentucky Firefighters Heading West to Battle Wildfires

A group of Kentucky firefighters is being sent to Utah to assist with wildfires burning in big timber and juniper grass. Kentucky Division of Forestry officials say 21 firefighters will gather Wednesday in London for a briefing before heading west.

The U.S. Forest Service notified the division Tuesday that assistance was needed. The division has a cooperative agreement with the Forest Service to provide assistance during forest fire emergencies.

"We are glad to be able to help. I am sorry for the situation they find themselves in but happy that we are able to respond.” said Leah MacSwords, Director of the Kentucky Division of Forestry.

The last time the division sent crews out of state was 2011 when firefighters were sent to Georgia and Florida where catastrophic wildfires were burning.